The Orioles have offered left-hander Mark Hendrickson a minor league contract, reports The Baltimore Sun's Dan Connolly. Hendrickson, 36, has posted a 4.74 ERA, a 2.19 K/BB ratio and a 10.6 H/9 rate in 105 games (12 of them starts) over the last two seasons in Baltimore. The Orioles declined Hendrickson's $1.2MM option for 2011, but were still known to be interested in bringing the veteran back at a lower price.
Hendrickson is also being targeted by the Rockies, reports Troy Renck of The Denver Post. It's no secret Colorado is looking for left-handed bullpen help, specifically a pitcher who is willing to sign a minor league contract. Tampa Bay and Seattle showed some interest in Hendrickson earlier this offseason, but there has been no news on either of those fronts since the Winter Meetings.
This was really only a matter of time. Especially after Beimal’s signing with Pittsburgh. I feel like Hendrickson will sign but I wish the O’s would have gotten more of a lefty specialist. Mike Gonzalez, being a former closer, has the potential to face righties as well as lefties. So does Hendrickson (being a former starter). Not that this is a bad thing, but I’d rather have a guy who could come in and shut down David Ortiz and Adrian Gonzalez and then give the ball to Uehara to face the lefties.
*”…give the ball to Uehara to face the righties.”
Hendrickson probably shouldn’t be facing righties. His split is pretty wide.
vs RHB .299/.346/.476/.823
vs LHB .267/.320/.382/.702
Let the bidding war begin!
The 1 person who ‘liked’ this must not be an O’s or Rox fan.